Having a problem with breakouts from masks, or other skin health issues? You’re not alone. Wearing a mask in public per the CDC’s guidelines is the right thing to do to help curb the spread of Covid-19, but it can wreak havoc on the skin—many of us have started experiencing dermatitis and acne in the areas covered by our masks.
The issue is not necessarily that wearing masks are creating new symptoms—though that could be true if you are experiencing extremely dry or raw skin—but more that the skincare routines you may have relied upon to suppress these symptoms are no longer working in the new environment masks have created on the skin.
If you have been using topicals, products with sterilizing or microcidal ingredients, skin-stripping cleansers, or frequent exfoliation to manage breakouts, you are extra vulnerable. Because while these efforts may have been keeping your skin clear in the short term, they have also compromised your skin’s barrier layer and depleted its natural defense system by killing the commensal bacteria that help keep your skin healthy. (You can read more about supporting the skin's microbiome here.)
The new ecosystem masks create on our face — a dark and moist environment that is high in CO2 and low in O2 — is prime for the proliferation of pathogens. Heat and stress further exacerbate the issue, as do masks made with synthetic fibers and other occlusive materials that touch the skin continuously.
The best way to protect your skin against pathogens is to begin supporting the function of your skin instead of stripping it (and disrupting the microbiome in the process). That way you are setting your skin up to function optimally, which will promote a thriving defense system, which will protect you from unwanted symptoms.
Read on for our suggestions for preventing acne and other skin problems from masks.
If you’re not in a hospital setting and/or you don’t need to wear an N95 mask, we suggest choosing a mask with natural fibers that are breathable and washable, such as high thread count cotton or a mixture of cotton and silk. Natural silk or silk hybrid (silk + cotton) is also a good choice as silk can reduce surface friction, is hydrophobic, and is naturally breathable and antimicrobial.
To compensate for the new stressors resulting from wearing protective equipment on the face, here is our suggested regimen.
Have a question or need more information about how this applies to your specific skin concerns? Click here to get personalized advice from our estheticians, or browse our Product Recommendations.